Global human rights watchdog, Amnesty International, has issued a strong condemnation of the violent assault on veteran Nigerian filmmaker, Don Pedro Obaseki, describing the incident as barbaric and unlawful. The organisation has called on the Nigerian police to launch an immediate and thorough investigation.
Details of the Violent Assault in Benin City
The attack occurred on Sunday, 29 December 2025, at the Uwa Primary School field in Benin City, Edo State, where Obaseki had gone to play football with friends. According to a viral video and the victim's account, he was physically abducted by armed thugs, severely beaten, stripped naked, and paraded through the streets.
Obaseki, a cousin to former Edo State Governor Godwin Obaseki and ex-Managing Director of Daar Communications, stated his assailants claimed to be acting on orders from the palace of the Oba of Benin. He was eventually taken into the palace where he was forced to kneel in public before being released and taken to a police station.
Amnesty International's Firm Stance and Calls for Justice
In a reaction posted on its official X account on Monday, Amnesty International decried the "utter disregard for human dignity and the rule of law." The organisation urged the palace to distance itself from the act and emphasised that such actions are prohibited under international human rights law.
"What happened to Mr. Obaseki is unlawful and shows complete disdain for due process," Amnesty stated. "The Nigerian police must investigate the incident and ensure that all those suspected of involvement in this crime are brought to justice. What happened in Benin city on Sunday is unacceptable in a free society."
Victim's Trauma and Alleged Cause of the Attack
Narrating his traumatic ordeal, Don Pedro Obaseki expressed profound humiliation, stating he had never been treated so badly because of his nativity. He suggested the attack might be linked to a cultural misunderstanding stemming from a public statement he made.
"I heard that my sin was that I went to London and made a public statement that 'May Edo people live long and prosper,'" Obaseki explained. "That I should have said, 'May the Oba live long and prosper.' That my saying 'may Edo people live long and prosper' is a cardinal sin in Benin."
He clarified that from his interaction with chiefs at the palace, it was evident they did not sanction the mission. The Commissioner of Police later intervened, leading to his release from the Oba Market police station.
